CHANCE OF A NORTHERN LIGHTS DISPLAY AT THE END OF THIS WEEK

NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on May 17th.

This is all down to a coronal hole on the southern half of the sun which has now rotated into view of earth and is sending a increased stream material and solar wind towards earth which is expected to hit at some stage on Thursday.

Anyone living in Scotland and northern areas of Ireland and northern England will be at the best chance of catching the Aurora when this solar wind hits earths magnetic field.

The strength of the aurora is never really fully known until it impacts earth.

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The moon will not be a issue if the aurora does show up but it will not be dark until late in the night meaning there will be only a 3hr to 4hr gap or so to pick anything up.

The forecast for Thursday night looks good to with good clear skys over Ireland. This may well be the last time to see the northern lights before the summer nights become to bright and wash any other displays out.

Solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole could reach Earth on May 17th. Credit: SDO/AIA